Automatic shut-off valve.



F. C. SCHIELE.

AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFP VALVE. APPLIGATION FILED P51347, 1913.

1,1 33,506, Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Came/1253() MM y mi THE NORRIS PETERS C0.. PHON-LITHO.. WASHINGmN. D. C.

F. C. SCHIELE.

AUTOMATIC SHUT-OPP VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 191s.

1,1 33,506. Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. FHUTUJ-ITMO.A WASHINGTON. DA C.

F. G. SGHIELE.

AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF VALVE.-

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 17. 1913.

1,1 33,506. Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mmm @JM THE NORRIS PETERS col. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASH/NGTUN. 1:! c.

F. C. S'GHIELE. AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED 11513.17, 1913.

1,133,506. Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

4 SHEETS-snm 4.

MM if d THE NORRIS PETERS Co.. PHOTQ-LITHG.. wAsHlNGmN. D. C.

FRANK C. SCHIELE, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Application led'February 1'?, 1913. Serial N o. 748,859.

To aZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK C. SGHIELE, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Shut-Off Valves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has for its object to provide an automatic shut-off valve for interrupting the supply of illuminating gas to a building in case of fire or making repairs, and consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention: Figure -1- is a view in side elevation of a shut-off valve embodying the invention. Fig. 2- is a top plan view thereof, the service pipe being shown in section. Fig. -3- is a central vertical longitudinal section through the service pipe and valve-casing showing the valve therein and a part of the valve-operating means. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. -1- showing the valve-controlling mechanism tripped to close the valve as it would appear when thermally actuated. Fig. -5- is a view similar to Fig.-1- showing the same mechn anism applied to the valve-casing interposed in a horizontally disposed service pipe and showing the weight 7 actuating the valve in a position to adapt the device for operation in this position. Fig. -6 is a view similar to Fig. -5- showing spring-actuated in place of weight-actuated trip mechanism. Fig. -7- is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. -6-. Figs. -8- and 9* are views similar to Figs. -6- and -7- respectively, showing a further modification in construction.

The main object of my invention is to pro,- vide an automatic shut-off valve which, when in its open position, will permit an absolutely free passage for gas through the service pipe and valve casing, and which when closed will effect an absolute interruption of the gas supply to the service pipes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trip mechanism which is very simple and easily operated, either manually or thermally, but which is entirely insensible to vibration and other causes of accidental closure.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description.

The construction shown in Figs. -1- to 5* inclusive, illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention in which a weight is employed to effect closure in preference to a spring for the reason that a valve of this character may remain constantly in open position for a number of years during which springs may become set and incapable of operation at the crucial moment.

In the service pipe 1 there is interposed a valve-casing 2 having a lateral branch 3 closed by a plug 4. In one end of said valve casing 2 is'a valve seat 5 on which a plug valve 6 is adapted to seat, the latter being connected with the arm 7 of a shaft 8 journaled in bearings in the extension portion 3 of said casing, one end of said shaft passing through a stuffing box at one side of said valve casing, the gland 9 of which effects a sealed joint in connection with packing in the usual manner. The said arm 7 is secured to said shaft 8 by means of one or more set screws 10. The connection between the valve 6 and the arm 7 is so made as to permit the valve some play relatively to said arm so that it may readily iind its seat. This is accomplished in any usual and well-known manner. Mounted upon the outer end of said shaft 8 is a lever 11 which is secured upon the outer end of said shaft by means of a screw 12 or in any other suitable manner; the said connection with said shaft 8 being made substantially midway between the ends of said lever. Mounted in one end of said lever 11 is a rod 13 carrying a weight 14 at its free end. The other end of said lever 11 is straddled by the bifurcated and of a trip lever 17, which latter is pivotally secured to the lever 11 by a pin 16. Mounted upon one face of the lever 17 is a small plate 18 which projects beyond the pivoted end thereof and engages the lever 11 to limit the pivotal movement of said lever 17 relatively thereto in one direction. The said plate 18 is secured to said lever 17 by'means of a solder fusible at a relatively low temperature. The outer or free end of said lever-17 is connected by any suitable means, such as the cord or cable 19, with a device for manually turning the same on its pivotal connection with the lever 11.

Pivotally mounted at one end upon the ex-y tension portion 3 of the valve-casing is a U- shaped lever 20, the free arm of which projects between the lever 11 and the valve casing and which at its free end is provided pivot of said lever 20 is parallel with the axis of the shaft 8. The said lever 17 is provided with a recess 22 4which extends to a point contiguous to its pivotal connection with .the lever 11, the last-named end of said recess 22 terminating in a' shoulder constituting a stop for engaging the said projection` 21 when the latter is disposedin the position shown in Figure -1-. r1`he arc upon which. the said projection 21 turns intersects the arc which said shoulder of said trip lever describes as the latter is turned on the axis of the shaft 8 by the weight 1l. Accordingly a pressure exerted by the lever 17 on the projection 21 is in a direction lateral to or intersecting the arc which the said shoulder of the trip lever describes and such pressure, therefore, serves only to maintain said projection 21 in engagement with the said shoulder. This pressure so exerted is of such force as to prevent any disturbance of the relative position of the parts by vibration or even shock so that the danger of the lever 11 being accidentally tripped is very remote. At the same time, however, the tripping of said lever either by operating the cord 19 or by the melting away of the plate 18 is exceedingly delicate. Upon drawing the cord 19 upwardly to turn the lever 17 on its pivot the primary action will be to raise the weight 1li slightly and depress the end of the lever 11 on which the trip lever 17 is pivotally mounted until said shoulder of the latter has raised the projection 21 out of the path of movement of said last-named end of the lever 11. At this time the lever 17 will have been raised to a substantially vertical position and thereupon will turn4 with the lever 11 and by contact with the arm 20 will turn the latter on its pivot so that it will be thrown down. If, however, the said tripping is elfected by releasing the plate 18 the said arm 2O will remain substantially in the position shown in Fig. 4.- while the lever 11 will assume the position shown in said ligure, except, however, that the said arm 20 will be turned more or less from the position shown in full lines by contact of the cord 19 or the piece connecting the same with the lever 17. rl`he positionof said arm 20 upon tripping the lever 11 is, however, immaterial.

rlhe valve G employed is, preferably, of what is known as the plug type and closes, preferably, in the direction of flow of gas or other iuid so that the'latter will exert its pressure to maintain the valve closed after the lever 11 has been tripped. It will I be obvious, ofcourse, that any other type of valve may be employed if desired without departing from the invention.

One. objectV of the invention is to provide a valve of such construction that when the same is open and the lever 11 disposed in the position shown in full lines in Fig. -1-` said valvewill. offer no obstruction to the free flow of fluid. It will be seen by referring to Fig. -3- that vthis `is readily accomplished in the construction described. 1t will furthermore be obvious thatby removingV the eap4 of the valve casing access may be readily had to the valve for purposes of adjustment and repair.

In Fig. -5- I have-shown the mecha- ,nism hereto-fore described and illustrated in Figs. -1 to-/1 inclusive as applied to a vertically disposed service pipe applied to a horizontally disposed pipe. The only change requisite in the relative positions of the parts is to turn the arm 13 carrying the weight 14 on its axis through an arc of one hundred andeighty deg-rees. Said arm 13 when so disposed will obviously cause the center of gravity of the weight to be disposed on thatside of the vertical plane of the axis of the shaft 8 which will cause said weight to turn said shaft in a direction to close the valve 6.k yThe said arm 13 is preferably rectangular in cross section so that accidental turning thereof in its socket, particularly when disposed in the position shown in Fig. -1, will be obviated.

in Figs. --6- and -7- I have illustrated a modified form of construction in which the shaft 8 is actuated by a spring to. close the valve and maintain it closed in place of employing a weight to perform this function. The spring may be employed where there is insuiiicient room to accommodate the weighted arm though the latter, as previously stated, will be used in preference to the spring for the reasons given. In this construction the stufling box gland termi` nates at its outer end in a Hat plate 24 which is moved inwardly by means ofset screws 25 passing into threaded openings in the valve casing in any convenient manner. Rigidly mounted upon the outer' endofthe shaftS is a bell crank lever` 26 to the outer end of one arm 27 of which a lever' 28, corresponding to the lever 17, ispivotally'secured, the latter being equipped'w-ith the plate 29, corresponding to theplate 18, and performing the function of the latter. A helical spring 8O is engaged at one end with the plate 24 of the gland and at its other end with the arm 31 of said bell crank lever 26.

Mounted upon a pivot 32 disposed substantially in vertical alinement with the axis of the shaft .8 is a lever 33 carrying a weight 34 at one end and terminating at its other end in a U-shaped arm 34; provided at its sides of the valve casing.

free end with a projection 35, which is adapted to be engaged by the lever 28 and which bears normally against the outer end of the arm 27 of said lever 26, the latter being disposed in the path of pivotal movement of said projection 35. The lever 33 is also provided with a lateral projection 36 which is disposed in the path of the arm 31 of the lever 26 so that as the projection 35 moves out of engagement with the shoulder at the outer end of the arm 2T said arm 31 will strike said projection 36 to throw the lever 33 downwardly. Owing to the different arcs of movement of the said projection 36 and the arm 31 the latter will pass the projection 36 during its pivotal movement in a direction to close the valve and thereupon the said weight 34 will return said lever 33 to the position substantially as shown in full lines in Fig. -6-. Said projection 36 will then pass intothe path of the upper face of the arm 31 thereby preventing opening of the valve or the return of the lever 26 to the position shown in full lines until the lever 33 has been manually turned to throw the projection 36 again out of the path of said arm 31. Aside from the factV that this construction occupies less space and affords means for preventing aocidental opening of the valve, this construction affords no advantages over the construction shown in Figs. 1- to -5- inelusive.

1n Figs. -8- and -9-, I have shown another modification in the construction in which the shaft 37 carrying the valve passes through two stufng boxes on opposite Secured to the ends of said shaft 3T is a U-shaped lever 3S. Mounted upon the service pipe 39 adjacent the valve seat end of the valve casing 40 is a collar 41 which is clamped upon said pipe 39. Through the upper arms 42 of said collar 41 a shaft or stud 43 passes upon which a bell-crank lever' 44 is pivotally mounted. The latter is provided with an arm 45 provided on the face thereof opposing the valve casing 40 with an L-shaped projection 46 in the recess between the free arm of which and the body of said arm 45 the middle portion of the U-shaped lever 38 is adapted to be received, the latter engaging the free arm of said projection 46 to maintain the valve actuated by the shaft 37 open. The said arm 45 may be maintained in its lowered position by means of the weight 47 indicated in dotted lines as being mounted upon the free end of said arm 45, or the same may be maintained in said position by means of the helical spring 48 disposed upon the shaft or stud 43 and one end of which engages the arm 45 while the other end of said spring engages a similar stud or shaft 49 passing through the arms 42 below said stud or shaft 43. Pivotally secured to the free end of the other arm 50 of said lever 44 is a lever 51 similar to the lever 17 and which is provided with a fusible stop plate 52 corresponding to the plate 18. rlhe said lever 51 is provided between its ends with a recess 53 terminating in a shoulder 54 against which the projection 55 of an arm 56 pivotally mounted upon the said stud or shaft 49 is adapted to engage. The operation of this construction is substantially the same as that of the construction shown in Figs. -1- to -5- inclusive. ln the event that the plate 52 is disengaged from the lever 51 the latter will become incapable of resisting pivotal movement of the lever 44 in a direction to close the valve. As soon as the arm 45 turns toward the valve casing the free end of the projection 46 will pass out of the arc of movement of the middle portion of the lever 38 thus permitting the latter. to turn freely on the axis of the shaft 37. lts movement in this direction is accelerated and forced by the further pivotal movement of said arm 45 in the same direction so that the latter exerts its pressure upon said lever 38 to close and maintain the valve closed.

The principle involved in the several constructions illustrated and described is the saine, that is to say, the several levers moving in arcs intersecting each other serve to prevent relative movement thereof in the direction of valve-closure as soon as the parts are engaged with each other at a point at which the arcs of theirl respective movement intersect each other` In this manner the said parts become firmly locked in engagement with each other so that they cannot be accidentally tripped by vibration, but at the same time the tripping either manually or thermally is very delicate and easily accomplished. That is to say, a very slight pull on the cord connected with the lever 17, and its equivalents 28 and 51, will serve to immediately throw the projection engaged with said lever, out of the path of movement of the latter, whereupon it is free to turn in the direction to close the valve. At the same time each of the projections referred to is so disposed that upon removal or release of the plate 18, 39 or 52 by the action of heat the end of the lever 11, 26 or 44 will be free to move to effect closure of the valve.

1 claim as my invention:

1. fn an automatic shut-off valve, means arranged in operative relation to the valve to maintain the same normally open, said means including a pivoted member, a trip lever pivotally mounted thereon, a fusible stop for limiting the relative pivotal movement of said member and said trip lever in one direction, a shoulder between the ends of said trip lever, a lever pivotally mounted on the valve-casing and spaced from the aXi-s of the pivot of said member and provided with a projection adapted to normal-lyI engage said shoulder of said triplever, the direction of thrust between the *said projection and the said shoulder being substantially radial of the lever equipped with the projection; the arc of movement of the said shoulder about the aXis of the pivot of said member and the arc described by said projection intersecting each other at a point in the movement of the former at which the valve is open and the arc of movement of said shoulder in the direction of valve-closure being gradually farther from` the axis of the pivot of the lever equipped with said projection, and means for manually turning said trip lever relatively to said member to disengage said projection from said shoulder.

2. In a device of the lrind specified, valveclosing means comprising a pivoted lever engaged with the valve, means continually tending to move the said lever to its valve* closure position; Yand automatically and manually releasable means for normally holding the lever in position to maintain said valve open, said means comprising a trip-lever pivotally connected with said lever and provided between its ends with a shoulder, a fusible stop for limiting relative pivf otal movement of said levers in one direction, manually operable means engaged with said trip-lever for turning the same relatively to said lever in the other direction, an arm passing between said lever and the valve casing and having a projection adapted to normally engage said shoulder of said trip-lever, a pivot for said arm spaced from the pivot of said lever, said arm U-shaped to permit said projection to pass the pivot of said lever, the arcs described by said project-ion and by said shoulder, respectively as the latter turns on the pivot of said lever, intersecting each other at a point in the movement of said lever at which the valve is open, the movement of said shoulder in the valve-closing direction exerting tension on said arm, said trip-lever, when manually actuated, throwing said projection out of engagement with said shoulder and, upon the fusingo said stop, said trip-lever tur-ning on its pivot in the said other direction relatively to the lever.

3. In a device of the kind specified, valveclosingl means comprising in combination, a pivoted lever operatively disposed in actuating relation to the valve, Vmeans engaging said lever and tending to move the same to its valve-closing position; and means for normally holding said lever in posi-tion to maintain said valve open including a triplever pivotally mounted on said lever, a fusible stop lor limiting relative pivotal movement of said trip-lever and said lever in one direction, a shoulder between the ends of said trip-lever upon one side thereof, said lever adapted to describe an arc of about ninety degrees between valve-closing position and the position in which it is adapted to be supported to maintain the valve open; a pivoted arm equipped with a projection normally engaging the said shoulder on the trip-lever, the pivot of the said arm being at the opposite side of the trip lever from that having the said shoulder, the said projection adapted upon relative movement of the said levers to describe an arc which intersects the arc described by said shoulder at a point therein at which the valve is adapted to be maintained open and adapted to engage said shoulder at said point of intersection of said arcs, and means for manually operating said trip-lever to turn the same relatively to said lever for disengaging said projection from said shoulder.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK C. SCHIELE.

l/Vitnesses M. M. BOYLE, ALBERT SCHEIBLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

